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Welsh tidal energy project gets the green light

The UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Welsh Assembly Government have given the go ahead for a tidal energy project off the Pembrokeshire coast.

Tidal Energy’s 1.2 MW DeltaStream device will be tested in the Ramsey Sound for 12 months, providing power for around 1000 local homes in St David’s.

The device comprises three turbines on a 30 m wide triangular frame, which sits on the seabed without needing to be anchored.

The full-scale device could be installed as soon as early next year, says the company, which has received over £500,000 towards the project from the European Regional Development Fund.

“This is tremendous news for Tidal Energy Ltd, for Pembrokeshire and for Wales as a whole,” said managing director Martin Murphy.

If the 12 month trial is successful, Murphy says the company will look to develop a pre-commercial array in 2014. UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne welcomed the news saying:

“This is exactly the kind of innovative and exciting project I want to see more of. We must make the most of our natural marine resource, not just to cut our emissions, but to boost energy security and create jobs.”

Earlier this week, Marine Current Turbines and RWE npower renewables announced that they had applied for planning consent for a 10 MW tidal stream turbine array off the Anglesey coast in North Wales.